Beyond today’s trade: Wilson’s thoughts on coaching staff, April 3 deadline and more

ANAHEIM — There was no way Doug Wilson was going to escape questions that went beyond the Douglas Murray trade to Pittsbugh once the Sharks scheduled a phone conference call.

The Sharks are in unfamiliar territory (out of the playoffs if barely, with only 18 games left to play) and there is league-wide curiosity about the state of the franchise with draft deadline on the horizon. So the questions covered a lot of territory.

Here’s some of what we learned:
What’s the coach’s status?
“A natural question. The coaching staff prepares this group. When you see us play well, it’s playing the right way. A lot of the time, as I say, talked to several other GMs and there’s a similar frustration. We’re a 57-minute team in a 60-minute league. In those two or three minutes, why the mistakes prevent you from winning games is very frustrating.

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“But is that coaching preparation? No, I think it comes down to players sticking with it, not altering our approach to a game just because we’re down a goal or whatever.. . .I think our coaching staff addressed the areas we wanted them to address — the PK, the goals against, how we play around our net. The offensive side, it’s hard to fathom. We’ve got some guys that have been goal scorers in this league that all went dry at the same time, or guys that were scoring at a very high clip before. Our second power play unit, which was the best in the league last year and had a big impact on games – some of it was because of injuries, but that has not really been there. And that has really impacted our scoring at important times during games where we were counting on that. It really hasn’t delivered what we needed so far.”

Buyers or sellers at the deadline?
We’re both. Are we going to give up first round or second round picks in a draft that’s viewed as very strong? The answer is no. This is the time that we’re going to replenish in a very strong draft year.

“But if there’s younger players that can fit into what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to play, I have no problem acquiring that maybe in lieu of a pick.

What about older players to provide more offense?
I don’t see that happening.

Can you rebuild on the fly?
“We knew that this time would be getting here if you look at how are contracts are structured in terms of committed dollars. We haven’t used the word rebuild because that classically mean six or seven years. You look at some of the top teams that missed the playoffs six or seven years and that does put you in a certain position.

“We like to use the term reset and refresh. We’re fortunate we have good players in key positions such as goaltending, center and on the back end. Do we need to add some pieces to our group going forward? Absolutely.”

Does the Murray trade mean Brent Burns goes back to defense?
“That’s completely Todd’s call. Brent is one of those unique players, just like Dustin Byfuglien was, that you can use him in both positions. You can use him on the point for the power play because he’s got a great shot and that’s what you need on the power play to make the defending team play you differently. He’s a dominant power forward. I don’t know how you handle a guy that size that can shoot and is fearless.

“There’s different needs when you’ve got injuries or are looking for different things. It’s a great luxury to have a player like that. I think we all saw the impact Byfuglien had with Chicago’s success. Brent can be either one. I think he’s going to be a very impactful player for us.

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“It’s nice to see him back healthy and skating the way he can. He’s played forward for four or five games and every game he’s had three or four quality scoring chances. But also, with the shot, being able to put him on the second power play unit, has a big impact. He’s just a hockey player. It’s just the position we start him in or need him in. He may play both positions in certain games. That’s all situationally decided.”

(I asked McLellan if Murray’s departure might mean Burns would be moving back to defense. “Not tonight,” was the two-word answer.)

****Moving Joe Pavelski to third line center should bring to mind his stint in that same role two years ago, with Kyle Wellwood and Torrey Mitchell as his wings. That was a productive time for all three players.

“Yeah, probably one of my best runs ever,” Pavelski said when I brought it up. Then he looked forward to his new wings.

“Gali brings a lot of speed, Shep seems like he’s right on the verge. He’s been playing more now. You sit out for that long and jump back into the speed, it’s going to come back to you at some point, and he’s been making some plays,” Pavelski said. “He shoots it good. I think that’s the biggest thing, we need to simplify it a little bit more. Our line will try to lay it in, get it back, go to the net hard and when we get the opportunity, shoot. It’s all the simple things that usually make you successful.”

****Murray’s departure means the Sharks will be using Jason Demers and Justin Braun most nights — ending the either-or nature of things. Braun benefits immediately as he hasn’t played since the game that kicked off this road trip that’s about to end. And what’s he looking forward to specifically?

“I’m trying to look to get that taste of L.A. out of my mouth and get it back on the right track,” Braun said. “It’s been a long break, but I’m excited to get back in and play my game like I know I can.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Trading Crankshaft…last road game… who cares they played a solid game. It was enjoyable, fast paced and they beat a top team.

Can they maintain this….I doubt it, but I’ll take it.

Happy for Shep! For once I’m smiling after a sharks game… feels good

Topcat

Game was way closer than it should/could have been. Duck’s first goal was lucky, Demer’s gave them one, and we had what, three clean breakaways and scored on none of them. Not to mention the non-goal call on Couture’s goal (it was a goal). The Ducks have a way of hanging in there. Don’t forget though, they played last night and the Sharks were well rested (AND motivated after the Murray trade). BTW, I’ve been a critic of Irwin sometimes, but he had a very solid game tonite. How about that Boyle? Does he have guts or not? Miss the empty net, and faceoff in front of Niemi and outnumbered.

Renoshark

Lisa @ 100:

Amen.

Shark Fin

One of the more enjoyable games compared to the rest of the season even if it looked like they came close to letting ANA come back. The 1st period Sharks have been absent for a long time now.

Getting two #2′s for Dougie is awesome. Dougie gave everything he had and was one of my favorite Sharks. This is a great trade IMO though. He’s too slow to help the Sharks now and it’s a position of surplus given the young D men we have. I think PIT overpaid though I realize they’re going for the cup.

ZEKE

That was a fun, intense game against a good team. I’ve been in favor of spreading the talent — and seeing Pavs on one line, Couture and Marleau on another and Jumbo with Burns on the top line — it worked tonight. I said I’d liked a lot of what I’d seen from Sheppard, but he still seemed rusty. Tonight (especially with Pavs), it seemed to come together for him. He didn’t get an assist on the Pavs goal, but he made the play that set up the goal. Still a Galiardi skeptic, but he didn’t hurt that line.

Surprised at the 3 stars — our 2 were Boyle and Thornton. Seems odd given all the guys who seemed to have big games (Sheppard, Burns, Pavs, Havlat).

Andy

Some idiot calling himself HockeyInsiderr is claiming that the Sharks are working on a deal with Washington Caps, where we send Marleau and Couture to Washington for Oveckhin, and Riberio.

Phil

Keep in mind that the cap next year is dropping to $65 million.

I don’t think Murray had to be moved, but I like the idea of Demers getting ice time and improving and I agree somewhat with the comments about other players needing to be pushed into filling those skates. And two 2nd rounders (or even a 2nd and a 3rd which might turn out) is a pretty good return for a guy that was an eighth round pick.

And hey — that’s how the league is built these days. Look at Minnesota, Edmonton, and Colorado’s structure right now. With the salary cap coming down, those entry level contracts are going to keep being big wins for cap space.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense to keep Demers on the shelf either. He clearly needs the development, judging by his oeuvre this evening.

Clowe is looking like a better thing with every game. I’ve said it before that he still plays a very good game even if he’s not finding the net. I wonder if Wilson is waiting to resign him to give him as long as possible to bring his numbers up? Maybe it’s just to keep the trade talk going. We should be able to get him on the cheap — never mind the discount for having been a Shark for so long — and I’d take him over a few players on our bottom line. Especially after a season like this, he’ll want to stay with an organization that’s willing to put faith in him.

If you’d asked me before the season if I wanted to lose ~20 goals a season, I would have said no. But looking at the possibility of next season? It might just be the best thing that could have happened to the Sharks.

Here’s looking forward to Wednesday. If we can mash the Ducks on our home ice, then I’ll take it as a sign to look forward to our playoff run.

Lisa

Phil

“Clowe is looking like a better thing with every game.”
Clowe didn’t play tonight.

2Teal4You

Mathew. Try the mute button, usually below the volume.

AllSport

Last two games the Sharks are playing more east-west on offense and being more patient offensively, which is critically important. I’m seeing a little less shoot-and-hope, but it’s still there, and still creating transition opportunities.

Thank God for Niemi–he made so many great saves tonight–he really only got beat once, and on a very tough opportunity. I was a critic of Niemi before, but he has really stepped up and learned to stop swimming and play a contained, extremely effective game. He is as good a goalie now as I’ve seen in the NHL.

The replay non-goal was a disgrace for the NHL–we looked like the NFL tonight, and that’s pretty embarrassing. That the Sharks came back and scored again showed some very nice character.

2Teal4You

Andy. This what you saw?

Talked to quite a few sources today who are talking about an off the record deal…best way to describe it…”A player once thought would NEVER be moved looks to be quietly in play….”

Surprised no one mentioned/noticed this. I say it as am impression for some who doesn’t comment anymore here. Looks like the Wild scored a hat trick in Teal last night.

Burns
Havlat
Sheppard

Dan

Good move putting Pavs at center on the 3rd line. Thats what made us successful in the 10-11 playoffs. Judging by DW’s comments yesterday it doesnt look like we are going to trade for a scorer. I still think that Galiardi and Handzus need to be moved. They are the two most useless players on the team. Is kennedy injured? Why would Tmac play Galiardi instead of him?? Galiardi has done nothing all year.

Those blasting the ‘reset and refresh’ comments as condescending, totally disagree with you. There is no long term rebuilding that will take place in the NHL anymore, no need for it, and fans should never accept it. The nature of capped leagues is parity, there will be no more dynasties, so what you try to do is form a set of cores, not just a single core. Heck, look at Edmonton, they are gonna have cap issues just as likely as winning a cup.

Because of escalating salaries and the cap, good veteran players are available every year now for reasonsable prices to fill out rosters on short term deals, from Whitney to Jagr to Gomez to Vokoun.

Because of caps, players who would never have been available before will become available.

Because of parity, selling a player at the deadline gives you a high demand, low supply. It’s why Morrow was able to garner a 23rd overall high scoring D-man. Why a 3d pairing D-man was able to pull potentially 2 second round picks. It’s fairly easy to reset so to speak.

Any GM that does NOT espouse the “reset and reload” (or whatever you want to call it) is living in the past and has not adapted to the capped, parity filled, NHL.

Put it this way, if DW moved Boyle, Clowe, Havlat, Handzus and Gomez at the deadline and was not able to ice a contending team next season with a core left of Marleau, Thornton, Couture, Pavs and Burns, Stuart, Vlasic, I’d consider him a crappy GM. Any GM that misses the playoffs two years in a row is simply not doing his job.

HockeyNut

As long as we are still talking hockey, I am surprised no one has talked out out overly crappy power play. Fix this and some lose ends on defense and we are deep into the playoffs this year. Do the math on all of our OT games and shoot out dances….fix this and we should be golden.

My point is, this will not end without a few more trades before 4/3. No one is safe and DW brought in Larry Robinson for a reason. I can’t wait for 2014.